With the weather we have experienced in January, thinking about the spring season to come is nice.  But there is something happening in Fishers that is worth watching and can impact our city and neighborhoods.

At the Fishers City Council meeting January 13, councilors received a presentation from the mayor’s Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander about a proposal to limit rental homes to 10% per neighborhood.  This was recommended by a housing study commissioned by the city and presented to the Council 2 years ago.

It has taken about 2 years to look into this issue and for the staff of Mayor Scott Fadness to come up with a response to the growing number of rental homes in the city, particularly those owned by out-of-town entities, including Wall Street investment firms.

The presentation to the Council was the first step.  What comes next is the precise language of a proposed ordinance.  Council members appeared receptive to the idea and Mayor Fadness invited suggestions from Council members on exact language for the ordinance.

The first reading of a proposed ordinance is expected to be before the City Council by February or March.  It is expected to take about 3 months for any final approval, presuming all goes smoothly.

This has drawn media attention in Indianapolis news outlets such as the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal.  But don’t be fooled into thinking this is a done deal.

It is clear there is a positive initial reaction from the Fishers Council members.  Homeowners Associations (HOAs) appear to be behind such an ordinance limiting the number of rental units in each neighborhood.  Homeowners in many neighborhoods have concerns about the condition of some of the rental homes.  But I hear rumblings of opposition ahead.

Keep in mind that the interests buying and renting these homes are well financed entities such as hedge funds.  They have plenty of money and if they decide this ordinance will get in their way of doing business, those interested parties will not hesitate to begin using those resources in opposition of an ordinance such as the one Fishers is exploring.

I have seen chatter online and viewed arguments that may be used.  For example, there are many families unable to buy a home in Fishers for various reasons but are able to rent.  Would Fishers be penalizing these families?

It should be noted this proposal will not impact the cost of renting a home in Fishers.  That is true, it will not reduce rental home costs in Fishers.  The clear goal of this ordinance would be allowing more families to buy homes in the City of Fishers.

I am looking forward to seeing the first proposed language of a Fishers ordinance addressing rental homes.  HOAs have complained that the absentee owners often neglect maintenance and repairs of these rental homes, forcing HOAs to take legal actions, which adds expenses all HOA homeowners must share.

Keep an eye on this issue as the weather warms with the coming spring season.

I was out of town and could not attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the new CityView development on the south end of downtown Fishers.  As someone that has covered Fishers news for 13 years, it would be be like a reunion of former Fishers Town and City employees.

Shelby Bowen, founder and partner in Rebar Development, once worked on the Fishers municipal staff.  Tom Dickey, a Rebar partner, is the former Director of Community Development for the Town and later the City of Fishers.  The person handling public relations for the CityView project, Autumn Gasior, was the media relations person for Mayor Scott Fadness at one time.

I am certain it was a cold, but lively time as Rebar, Tegethoff Development and the City of Fishers celebrated the ground-breaking for City View, an over-55-years-of-age-and-over apartment complex, promising lots of amenities in a downtown Fishers location.

“CityView will be a welcome gateway into Fishers’ downtown Nickel Plate District where residents can live in the center of the action within walking distance to amenities like great restaurants, parks and trails, and entertainment destinations,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, in a company news release. “I’m excited see a project like CityView come to fruition to address market demand for a low maintenance, age-targeted, urban living experience.”

The complex will be located at 116th Street and Lantern Road, west of the Nickel Plate Trail, a close neighbor to First Internet Bank and the Nickel Plate Hotel.  The development will include a $90 million investment with 191 units.

“Mayor Fadness, the City Council and the entire Fishers team have laid out a vision for a vibrant downtown, and we see it coming to fruition with every new investment in the area,” said Tom Dickey. “We believe CityView is an important next step toward the vision of a downtown that is not only an economic engine, entertainment and cultural destination for the community, but is also sustainable long-term.”

The project is aiming for a completion date in the middle of 2027.

The Indy Fuel brought the heat on Saturday night, defeating the Kalamazoo Wings 4-1 in a Central Division showdown at Wings Event Center. After a postponed game the previous night, the Fuel capitalized on their power-play opportunities and delivered a commanding performance.

First Period:
The Fuel peppered the K-Wings with six shots before Kalamazoo managed their first. Despite several physical exchanges, neither team found the back of the net in the opening period. Indy’s aggressive forecheck and precise puck control translated into a 17-5 shot advantage, setting the tone for the night.

Second Period:
The defensive duel continued through much of the second frame until Kalamazoo’s Ted Nichol took a slashing penalty at 18:17. Indy seized the opportunity, breaking the deadlock with a power-play goal from Nathan Burke, assisted by Kevin Lombardi and Kyle Maksimovich. Heading into the third period, the Fuel held a slim 1-0 lead, having outshot Kalamazoo 31-17.

Third Period:
Burke struck again just three minutes into the final frame, doubling Indy’s lead with assists from Bryan Lemos and Colin Bilek. The Fuel found themselves on another power play shortly after when Colin Saccoman was penalized for delay of game. However, Kalamazoo’s Quinn Preston stunned the Fuel with a shorthanded goal at 3:51, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Indy quickly responded with a power-play tally from William Provost at 4:39, restoring their two-goal cushion. The Fuel’s penalty kill unit shined later in the period, shutting down a Kalamazoo power play after Nick Grima was called for tripping.

In the final minutes, the K-Wings pulled goaltender Jonathan Lemieux for an extra skater, but Maksimovich sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:17. Bilek and Burke, each having multi-point nights, earned assists on the insurance marker.

Postgame:
Indy’s power play proved to be the difference, going 2-for-2 while limiting Kalamazoo’s opportunities. The Fuel outshot the K-Wings 40-29.

The Fuel are currently tied with the Bloomington Bison for 4th & 5th place in the Western Conference Central Division, both teams with 39 points, but the Bison holding the tie-breaker at the moment.  The Fuel head back to their home at the Fishers Event Center January 31 and February 1 for a Friday-Saturday matchup with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

The intense cold our area has experienced in recent days has slowed many road construction projects, but not halted them all.

Changes in the lane configuration at the 146th Street & Allisonville Road construction continue to be delayed by the winter weather.  Also, be on the lookout for construction and lane restrictions along 96th Street, between Masters & Hague roads, for work on the pedestrian bridge over 96th Street.

Below is the full road construction report for the work week beginning Monday, January 27, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road Construction Update – Work Week starting Monday, January 27 →

You may have noticed fewer posts the last few days here.  My wife Jane & I just returned from a trip.  Normally, I keep up with this news blog by bringing a laptop computer along.

On this trip, the laptop died halfway through the trip so updating became a difficult thing to do.

I am back in Fishers and will be catching up over the next couple of days here.  Seems every time I leave town, there is plenty of local news.  But I suppose Fishers is just a very busy place all the time.

The Hamilton County Leadership Academy has named Angela Frazier as Academy Dean for the class of 2026. Ms. Frazier has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector.

Dr. Jerry McKibben has been conducting demographic studies for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools for a very long time. For most of that long time, he would forecast the rate of student growth.

His latest forecast was presented to the school board Wednesday night. It expects a slight downturn in the district’s student enrollment.

The student count for the current 2024-2025 school year is 20,698. The 2029-2030 student number is forecast to be 20,425.

McKibbben’s last forecast was slightly off, with 428 fewer students than he had expected. That was off by less than one-half of one-percent.

The Hamilton County Humane Society is thanking the local community’s response to the heating system emergency in one of their kennels. Progress is continuing in repairing the heating system, but dogs continue to come into the shelter. The Society is asking for local residents to continue stepping forward & offer foster care to these dogs. Check out my previous story for more details.

Families in Fishers & Noblesville are invited to celebrate the joy of reading and community connection on Saturday, February 1, as Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) participates in national Take Your Child to the Library Day. This annual event, observed by libraries nationwide, encourages parents and caregivers to explore the vast resources available at their local library and enjoy a day of discovery with their children.

Both HEPL locations will host family-friendly activities throughout the day, offering something special for everyone. Visitors can participate in scavenger hunts, snap photos at themed photo ops, pick up curated book bundles, and enjoy exciting giveaways—all during regular library hours.

“When caregivers come to the library, we hope they leave with something they need—whether it’s something that touches their heart, fills their hands, or enriches their minds,” said Allison Kartman, HEPL’s Children’s Program Coordinator. “We want families to bond over a meaningful program, discover a new book or resource, or gain knowledge from exploring all that the library has to offer. Our mission is to serve our community, and we hope every visit is filled with discovery.”

The event also underscores the library’s vital role in fostering early literacy and lifelong learning. By encouraging families to read together, HEPL aims to give children a strong foundation for academic and personal success.

HEPL shared helpful tips from Reading Rockets to make reading aloud with children an engaging and impactful experience:

• Select age-appropriate books that match your child’s interests.
• Let your child choose the books they’re excited about.
• Keep storytime interactive by discussing the pictures, asking questions, and introducing new vocabulary.
• Connect stories to your child’s everyday experiences to make reading relatable.
• Commit to reading aloud for just 15 minutes each day to nurture a love for reading.

HEPL invites all families to visit on February 1 and explore the diverse programs, materials, and services designed to support learning, creativity, and connection. For more information about the library, visit hamiltoneastpl.org.